Quick release buckle for harness



y 15, 1952 J. B. TWAlTS, JR 3,034,596

QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE FOR HARNESS Filed June 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG. 3

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AT TORN EY JOSEPH B. TWAITS. JR.

May 15, 1962 J. B. TWAITS, JR

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s @n m A w B H P E s m 5m @IALCL ATTORNEY United States Patent OfiticePatented May 15, 1962 3,034,596 QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE FOR HARNESS JosephB. Twaits, Jr., Landing, NJ. (326 Mount Hope Ave., Dover, NJ.) FiledJune 3, 1960, Ser. No. 33,788 Claims. (Cl. 182-3) This invention relatesto harness suitable for use by skin divers and, more particularly, tosuch subject to quick release by the user so as to be free from theapparatus carried thereby.

In the art of diving and, more particularly, that type called skindiving in which self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, calledScuba, is carried by the diver, it is important for the wearer to beable to quickly get free from the apparatus, as in case of emergency. Inaccordance with my invention, I have provided means for withoutcomplications quickly freeing the harness from the diver.

An object of my invention is to provide a harness suitable for use byskin divers, comprising straps or belts by means of which theself-contained underwater breathing apparatus is attached to the diver,which straps or belts are connected to a plate disposed in the front ofthe body of the user and from which plate said straps may be quicklyreleased to free the user for uninhibited svw'mming or other activity.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick release latchingdevice for the shoulder and waist straps of such harness and anotherquick release latching device for use with the weight belt, if a weightis carried, and which is operable independently of the shoulder andwaist strap release.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention,reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts inthe several views:

FIGURE :1 is a perspective view of a harness of the Scuba type Worn by adiver and embodying my invention, the users finger being illustrated inplace for a pressure release of the harness.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating the front elementsand the fastening means of the harness.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to FIGURE 2, butshowing the front elements of said harness assembled and latchedtogether.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line IVIV ofFIGURE 3, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line V-V ofFIGURE 3, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line VI-VI of FIGURE 2, inthe direction of the arrows, except that the lower catch is shown'inside elevation.

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 3, but showing amodification.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line VIIIVIIIof FIGURE 7, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of front elements of a modified form ofharness.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering theembodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 6, inclusive,there is shown a harness of the Scuba type, generally designated 11,only the front portions of which are illustrated. The back portions andthe apparatus carried by the harness may be conventional. The frontelements of the harness comprise a back plate 12, called such because itis a backing for the other elements in the front of the harness,although it is worn at the front of the user, generally designated .13,as viewed in FIGURE 1.

This back plate 12 has unreleasably connected thereto the front endportion of a crotch strap or belt 14, as by passing through a lower slotor aperture 15 in said plate, and secured upon itself, as indicated at16, as by sewing or other suitable means. The other elements of theharness comprise a left shoulder strap or belt 17, at the front portionof which is connected, as in a manner similar to the connection betweenthe belt 14 and the plate 12, a hook plate 18, the free end portion ofwhich is curved from the body portion or formed, as indicated at 19, toconnectingly hook under a latch pin 21. The pin 21 may be the only latchpin on the plate, although in the embodiment of FIGURES 2 and 3 it isthe upper of two latch pins, the other of which is designated 22.

The right shoulder strap 23 is also similarlyprovided with a hook plate24, the free end portion of which is curved from the body portion orformed, as indicated at 25, to lie below the hook portion 19 andconnectingly hook under the pin 21, like the portion 19 of the plate 18.The left waist strap 26 is likewise similarly equipped with a hook plate27, the free end portion of which is curved from the body portion, asindicated at 28, to lie below the hook portion 25 and connectingly hookunder the pin 21. This plate 27, as shown in FIGURE 3, is desirablyextensive enough to partially overlap plate 18, as indicated at 29,thereby bringing said plate. forward an amount equivalent to thethickness of the plate 18 and necessitating a somewhat greater curvaturefrom the plane of the body portion to provide the curved portion 28which underlies the same pin 21 as the curved portion 19.

In the same way, the right hand waist strap 31 is similarly providedwith a hook plate 32, the free end portion of which is curved, asindicated at 33, to lie below the hook portion 28 and connectingly hookunder the pin 21. This plate 32 also is desirably extensive enough topartially overlap plate 24, as indicated at 34, thereby bringing itforward an amount equivalent to the thickness of the plate 24 andnecessitating a somewhat greater curvature from the plane of the bodyportion to provide the curved portion 33.

The latch 21 in the present embodiment is connected to the plate 12 bymeans of a pivot pin 35 extending through the lower end portion thereofand through laterally-spaced lugs or ears 36 and 37, extending outwardlyfrom said plate The free end of the pin 21 is desirably beveled, asindicated at 38, and notched, as indicated at 39. The notch is adaptedto receive the lower edge portion of a catch 41, as viewed in FIGURE 6.Said catch comprises a body 42 from which flanges or lugs 43, 44, extendat opposite side edges and are ape-rtured to receive a pivot pin 45. Thepin 45 passes through lug portions 46 outstanding from the face of theplate 12, and embraced between the flanges 43 and 44 of the catch 41.

Surrounding this pin 45 is a helically coiled spring 47, tails at theend portions of which respectively press on the plate 12 and the body 42of the catch 41, to hold said catch in the position illustrated inFIGURE. 6. Here its body portion 42 is stopped against furthercounterclockwise movement by engagement with the upper end portions 43of the lug portions 46, and also received in the notch 39 of the pin 21.It also overlies the beveled portion 38 to hold said pin 21 in theposition illustrated in FIGURE 6; that is, sufiiciently close to theplate 12 to 3 therefrom until release of said pin. When in suchposition, the hook plates, if interlocked therewith, are in thepositions of FIGURE3, that is, they may be then held lockedwith respectto said plate 12, subject'to release only upon swinging said catch fromthe position of FIGURE 6 in a clockwise direction, against the pressureof the spring 47, to free the upper end of said pin 21, and

allow it to swing outwardly and away from the plate.

The foregoing isa description of the basic quick release harness of myinvention and which may be used Without any weight strap; However, it isalso desirable to have the catch 41' protected from unintentionalrelease. For such purpose I desirably have a curved catch guard flange49 outstanding from the front face of the plate 12 to a place slightlyabove or outward of the position of the catch 41, as viewed in FIGURE 6.Release of said catch is then possible only upon pushing inwardlythereon between the depending or end elements of said flange. An objectengaging the flange 49, but not extending beyond the upper or'outer edgethereof will not serve to release the catch.

If it is desired to use a weight in connection with the harness 11, thenI make the back plate 12 somewhat longer than would otherwise benecessary and employ a second latch pin 22, as shown most clearly inFIGURES 2 to 6, inclusive. With said second pin I connectthe left hookplate 51 which is connected to a weight belt, not shown, in a mannersimilar to the connection of the other hook plates to their respectivebelts. The free end portion of said plate 51 is curved from the bodyportion, or formed, as indicated at 52 to hook under the pin 22. Theright weight strap, not shown, is also similarly provided with a hookplate 53, the free end portion of which is curved from the body portion,or formed, as indicated at 54 to lie below the hook portion 52 andconnectingly hook under the pin 22, like the portion 52 of the plate 51.

The latch 22, in the present embodiment, is connected to the plate 12 bymeans of a pivot pin 55 extending 'thru the upper end portion thereofand through laterally spaced lugs or ears 56, 57, extending outwardlyfrom said plate. The free end of the pin 22 is desirably beveled andnotched like the pin 21. The notch is adapted to receive the upper edgeportion of a catch 58 as viewed in FIGURE 6. Said catch comprises a'body59 from which flanges or lugs 61, 62, extend at opposite side edges andare apertured to receive a pivot pin 63. The pin 63 passes thru lugportions 64 outstanding from the face of plate 12 and embraced betweenthe flanges 61 and 62 of the catch 58.

Surrounding the pin 63 is a helicallycoiled spring 65, tails at the endportions of which respectively press on the plate 12 and the body 59 ofthe catch 58 to hold Said catch in the position illustrated in FIGURE 6.Here its body portion 59 is stopped against further clock wise movementby engagement with the upper end portions 66 of the lug portions 64 andalso received in the notch of the pin 22. The catch body portion 59 alsooverlies the beveled pin portion to hold said pin 22, as illustrated inFIGURE 6, that is sufficiently close to the plate 12 to prevent theassociated hook plates from being pulled therefrom until release of saidpin. When in such position, the hook plates 51 and 53, if interlockedtherewith, are in the positions of FIGURE 3. That is, said hook platesmay be then held locked with respect to the plate 12, subject to releaseonly upon swinging said catch 58.from the position of FIGURE 6 in acounter clockwise direction against the pressure of the spring 65 tofree the lower end portion of said pin 21 and allow said pin to swingoutwardly and away from the plate.

It is also desirable, as in connection with the catch 41, to have thecatch 58 protected from unintentional release. For such purpose, Idesirably have a curved catch guard flange 67 outstanding from the frontface of the plate 12 to a plane slightly above or outside of theposition of the catch 58, as viewed in FIGURE 6. Release of said catchis then. possible only upon pushing inwardly thereon between theupstanding or end elements of said flange. An object engaging the flange67, but not extending beyond the upper or outer edge thereof will notserve to release said catch 58.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention as illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8, a construction is there shown which is similar to thatof FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, except that only one pin 21a serves forholding all of the hook plates, and the hooks of the shoulder and waiststraps extend at each side from a single plate. As in the embodimentpreceding, the back plate, 12a in this instance, has unreleasablyconnected thereto the front end portion of a crotch stnap or belt, notshown, as by passing thru the lower slot or aperture 15:: in said plate,and secured upon itself as in the preceding embodiment. The otherelements of the harness comprise a left shoulder strap and a left Waiststrap, not shown, connected respectively as through the upper and lowerslots illustrated therein to a left hook plate 18a. In the presentinstance, however, said hook plate has two free end portions which arecurved from the body portion, or formed as indicated at 19a and 28a, toconnectingly hook under the latch pin 21a.

In a similar way, the right shoulder strap, not shown, and the rightwaist strap, not shown, are connected to a single book plate 24a, as byhaving the end portions pass thru the respective upper and lower slotsshown in said plate. In the present instance the right hook plate 24ahas two free end portions which are curved from the body portion, orformed, as indicated at 25a and 33a, to lie under the hook portions and28a, respectively, and connectingly hook under the pin 21a, like theportions 19:: and 28a of the plate 18a.

If a weight is employed, a weight strap, not shown, has at its frontends a left hook plate 51a and a right hook plate 53a having,respectively, portions 52a and 54a formed to lie one under the otherbetween the hook portions 25a and 28a, and connecting hook under the pin21a, like the portions of the hook plates 18a and 24a previouslydescribed. The plate portion of the hook plate 51a overlaps the hookplate 18a and the plate portion of the hook plate 53a overlaps the hookplate 24a, as illustrated. Except as specifically described inconnection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with thefirst embodiment.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in FIGURE9, a construction of the double hook plates 18b and 24b is illustratedwhich is similar to that of the hook plates 18a and 24a of FIGURES 7 and8, except that in this instance there is contemplated no weight. Thus asingle pin, like the pin 21a only shorter, may be employed and therespective curved portions 1% and 28b on the plate 18b, and 25b and 33bof the plate 24b may be closer together so as to merely intermesh andlie below corresponding portions of one another, rather than allow aspace therebetween for the reception of curved portions of hook platesof a weight belt. Except as specifically described in connection withthe present embodiment, the same may correspond with FIGURES 7 and 8.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I have provided aharness for skin diving or the like, which may be quickly released toavoid impeding the diver in case of emergency. Inasmuch 'as this harnessmay be used in fresh or salt water, the parts are sufliciently large forthe necessary strength and desirably constructed of metal such asstainless steel, which is not materially corroded in such water. Thesprings for actuating the catches are formed of such metal and of suchstrength that, while the catches are readily releasable upon pressing afinger thereagainst, they are not subject to unintentional release, asmight occur if they were too weak and subject during swimming tomovement upon the mere flow of water thereagainst.

The beveling of the latch pin, or pins, may be such, and its or theirrelationship with the edge of the catch body associated therewith, thatafter the assembly of the hook plates is made, the latching of each pinmay be effected by a mere pressure thereon until the beveled portionpushes its catch aside and, at the end of the bevel, the catch snapsinto the notch thereabove and holds the pin in locked position.

The assembly of the parts, in the embodiment of FIG- URES l to 6,inclusive, is desirably from the top down. That is, the plate 18 isfirst placed in position, then the plate 24, then the plate 27, then theplate 32 and, if used, then the plate 51 and then the plate 53. In theembodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8, the plate 18a is desirably first applied,then the plate 24a, then the plate 51a and then the plate 53a, and theassembly latched in place by closing the latch pin 21a thereover andlatching it in position under the catch 41a.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with therequirements of the Patent Statutes, those skilled in this art will haveno difliculty in making changes and modifications in the individualparts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirementsor conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. -A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and Waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, suitable for use by skindivers, comprising a back plate to which the front end portion of acrotch strap is connected and from which other parts of the harness mayradiate, a latch pin, means pivotally connecting one end portion of saidpin so that it is swingable toward and away from the front face of saidplate, a catch, means pivotally mounting the catch on the front face ofsaid plate in position to hold the free end of said pin when placed sonear said plate as to underlie said catch, a spring to urge said catchto pin-holding position, said pin being adapted to overlie the hooks onthe front ends of the shoulder and waist straps of said harness and belocked in place when the free end of said pin underlies and is engagedby said catch, but subject to quick release upon a mere slight pressure,as of a finger, upon said catch to overcome the force of the spring,move it to release position, and allow the pin to swing out away fromsaid plate and release the hooks.

2. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having books at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid plate is provided with an outstanding flange curving around thecatch so as to guard it against inadvertent release.

3. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinthe plate is provided with an aperture positioned below the latch andthrough which the crotch strap passes for connection thereto.

4. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinthe hooks are in the form of two plates, a right hand plate from whichtwo curved portions extend to connectingly underlie the pin, and a lefthand plate from which two curved portions extend to alternate with thecurved portions of the right hand plate and connectingly underlie saidpin.

5. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinthe hooks for the shoulder and waist straps extend respectively from asingle hook plate at the right and a single hook plate at the left, andthere are additional hooks on the front ends of weight straps of saidharness, adapted to connectingly underlie said pin and be locked inplace when the free end of said pin underlies and is engaged by saidcatch, which hooks extend from their own plates independently of theother hook plates.

6. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinthe hooks are in the form of four plates, each with a curved end portionfor hooking under a single latch pin when the latter is in latchedposition and releasable from said pin and from each other upon releaseof the catch.

7. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 1, whereinthere is a second latch pin, means pivotally connecting one end portionof said second latch pin so that it is swingable toward and away fromthe front face of said plate, a second catch, means pivotally mountingsaid second catch on the front face of said plate in position to holdthe free end of said second pin when placed so near said plate :as tounderlie said catch, a spring to urge said second catch to pin-holdingposition, wherein the harness has additional hooks on the front ends ofweight straps, adapted to connectingly underlie said second pin and belocked in place when the free end of said second pin underlies and isengaged by said second catch, but subject to quick release, independentof the release of the other hooks, upon a mere slight pressure, as of afinger upon said second catch to overcome the force of its spring, moveit to release position, and allow said second pin to swing out away fromsaid plate and release, said additional hooks.

8. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 6, whereinthe waist strap plates overlap the respective shoulder strap plates atthe corresponding sides of the harness, and their pin-underlyingportions are curved to a correspondingly greater extent from the planesof the body portions of the plates.

9. -A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 8, whereinsaid first and second pins are pivoted at their adjacent end portionsand the catches are respectively above the upper pin and below the lowerpin.

10. A quick release buckle for harness provided with shoulder and waiststraps having hooks at their front ends, as recited in claim 9, whereinthere are in the aggregate six hooks, two for the shoulder straps, twofor the waist straps and two for the weight straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED ,STATES PATENTS

